Machine for controlling railway-traffic-governing apparatus



2 Sheets-Sheet l il@ r A. H. MARANDA Fi led July 29. 1926 LJELJGL] E J E Ii Nov. 30 1926.

MACHINE, Fon coN'rHoLLlNG nAlLwAY TRAFFIC GOVERNING APPARATUS Nov. 30 1926.

- 1,608,986 A. H. MARANDA MACHINE FOR CONTROLLING RA'LLWAY TRAFFIC GOVERNING APPARATUS Filed July 29. 192e 2 sheets-Sheet. 2

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INVENTORI @Haw/puma..

' Y Q-@LM Patented Nov. 30, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT H. MARANDA, 0F SWISSVALE, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR '10 THE UNION SWTCH @c SGNAL COMPANY, OF S'WSSVALE, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION 0F PENNSYLVANIA.

MACHINE FOR CONTROLLTNG RAILWAY-'I'RAFFIC-GOVERNING APPARATUS.

Appiication mai hay 29,

My invention relates to machines for coutrolling railway traffic governing apparatus, and particularly to machines of the type comprising levers for the mechanical operation of traffic governing devices and other levers for the electrical control of traffic governing devices.

I will describe one form of machine embodying my invention, and will then point out the novel features thereof in claims.

1n the accompanying drawings, Eig. 1 is a view showing in front elevation one form of machine embodying my invention` with a portion of the machine broken away to better illustrate the construction. Fig. 2 is an end view partially sectioned showing the machine illustrated in Fig. 1.

Similar reference characters i'efer to similar parts in both views.

Referring to the drawings, the reference character A designates a suitable framework in which are supported a plurality of mechanical levers B. Each of these levers is pivoted near its lower end at 1 and is adapted for the mechanical operation of a railway tran'ic governing device, such as a railway switch. An interlocking bed C is also supported by the framework A and comprises a plurality of locking bars 2. Each lever B is provided with a latch 8 for (2o-operating with a latch plate 4 to ret-ain the lever B in the extreme positions of its stroke, and this latch operates a locking link 5, one end of which is operatively connected with al crank 6. This crank is fastened to a rotating shaft 7 which is arranged to operate one or more of the locking bars 2 by suitable means such as a j aw 8 to shaft 7 and engaging a driving lug attached to the locking bar. The movements of each latch 3 are thus utilized to impart longitudinal motion of one or more of the locking bars 2. Mounted also on the framework A are one or more electrical control mechanisms each comprising an electric lever 9. The inachine may be provided with as many of these electric levers as are required for the operation of trafiic governing devices and as shown in the drawing the machine comprises two electric levers.

Each lever 9 operates a shaft 10 through the medium of bevel gears 11. A crank 12 is rigidly attached to each shaft 10 and op- 1926. sei-iai No. 125,700.

ei'ates a rod 13 by means of which the shaft 10 may be connected with any selected one oi' ones of the locking bars 2.

Two of the shafts 7 are provided with bushings 1G which are journalled in bearings 15 in a hanger 14. Supported upon the saine two shafts in similar manner is a second hanger 14' located in spaced relation with, and parallel to hanger 14. A plurality of counter-shafts 17 provided with bushings 18 are journalled in the hangers 14 and 14a to permit free rotation of the counter shafts. 1t will be seen tha each of the hangers 14, 14aL is supported solely by the shafts 7 so that the hanger is held rigidly in position but permits free rotation of the shafts 7.' The rod 13 operated by the electric lever 9 is connected with one of the counter-shafts 17 by means of a crank 19. A second crank 19a also attached to the same counter-shaft operates a driver 21 mounted to rotate freely on anadjacent shaft 7. The driver 21 is connected with the crank 19a by means of a link 20, and is provided with a segment gear 28 which meshes with teeth cut in one of the locking bars 2. 1t will be seen that the counter-shaft 17 may be provided with any reasonable number of cranks 19a for operating a similar number of drivers 21 so that a single electric lever 9 may operate any number of locking bars 2 without interfering with the usual operation of the locking bed by the mechanical lever shafts 7. Other levers 9 may be connected with the remaining counter-shafts 17 as will be clear from the foregoing explanation.

It should also be pointed out that while I have shown the hangers 14 and 14a of such size as to carry four counter-shafts 17, this particular arrangement is not essential but the hangers may be of any suitable size. Furthermore, they may be supported by any selected ones of the shaft 7 and may be moved to any part of the machine where it is desirable to operate a locking bar by an electric lever. Similarly, the length of the counter-shafts 17 depends entirely upon the bar or number of bars to be operated thereby and upon the spaces available for supporting the bushings 16, so that the countershafts 17 may be long or short depending upon the particular installation. i

Although I have herein shown and described only one iorin of machine einbodying myinvention, it is understood that va`- rions changes and modiiications may be made therein within the scope of the appended claims withoutdeparting 'troni the spirit andI scope ot my invention.

laving thus described my invention what I claim is:

l. In airinterlocking` lmachine comprising mechanical levers, a latch for each lever, a

plurality oi rotatable shafts one*oigieintivelyV machine, etwa. mechanical lever provided.

with a latch, a mechanical locking bed coinprising` a. plurality ot locking. bars, one ot which is operatively connected With. said latch, an electric lever,` a rotatable countershaft operated solely by saidelecti'ic lever, and mechanism. 'tor operatively connecting said counter-shaft With anotherot said locking bars.

3. In an interlocking machine con'ipiising mechanical levers, a latch toi' each said lever, a plurality otrotatable shafts one operatively connected With each latch', amechanical interlocking bed comprising a plurality of loclring'bars one of Which is operatively connected With eaeli said shaft, and an electric lever; the combination with the abovementioned instrumentalities o'i" 'ahaiiger sup` ported by tivo rshafts but permitting free rotation ot' the shafts, a counter-shaft journalled in said hanger and connected With said electric lever, and means 'toi' operatively connecting said counter-shalt with one ot said locking bars.

4l. ln an interlocking machine comprising mechanical levers, a latch for each saidy lever, a plurality of rotatable shafts one operatively connectedivith each latch, a mechanical interlocking` bed conilirising a plurality oit locking bars one ot which is operatively connected with each said shaft, and an electric lever; the combination with the abovementioned instrumentalities oit a countershaitt operatedby said electric lever, a driver mounted to rotate freely on4 one o'l said shafts but operatively connected with a lool;- ing?y bar, and mechanism interposed between said driver and the counter-shaft. A

5. in an interlockingl machine comprisingmechanical levers, a latch for each said lever, a plurality of rotatable shait'ts one operaA tively connected With each latch, a mechanical interloching,y bed comprisingl a plurality oi lockingy bars one of which is operatively connected with each said shait, and an electric lever; the combination with the abovementioned instrumentalities ot a pair oi' hangers supported solely by two ot' said shafts butr permitting tree rotation ot' such shatts, a counter-shatt ireely rotatable in said hangers and operatively connected with said electric lever, a driver mounted to rotate'treely on one oi said shafts but operatively connected ivith a locking bar, a crank rigidly fastened to the counter-shaft, and a link` for connecting said driver and said crank.

In testiinonywvhereot l aiiix my signature.

ALBERT H. MAR-ANDA. 

